BMW announces the launch of their ActiveHybrid models

First up is the X6 crossover SUV, which BMW claims to be the most powerful hybrid vehicle in the world.

Powered by a 4.4 litre V8 twin-turbo engine, as well as two electric motors that produce 91 and 86 bhp, the X6 ActiveHybrid is capable of a power output of 480 bhp. This allows the car to propel from 0-100km/h in just 5.4 seconds, up to an electronically limited top speed of 210 km/h. The power will be channelled through BMW's xDrive all-wheel-drive system and the seven-speed dual mode automatic transmission. BMW also claims a 20 percent better fuel efficiency from the standard X6 4.4 twin-turbo.

The other ActiveHybrid model is based on the 7-Series luxury sedan. The 7-Series uses the same 4.4-litre V8 twin-turbo powerplant as the X6 ActiveHybrid, but is set up differently. The hybrid system in the 7-Series is a mild system co-developed with Mercedes-Benz, which uses only a single electric motor that produces 15 bhp, to add to the 440 bhp from the petrol engine, to give it a final output of 455 bhp, channelled through the new ZF-developed eight-speed automatic transmission.

The other main difference that the 7-Series has from the X6 is the use of a 120V lithium ion battery pack rather than the nickel metal hydride system in the crossover. This improves efficiency by about 15 percent, while 0-100 km/h is dispatched in 4.8 seconds.

Both the X6 ActiveHybrid and the 7-Series ActiveHybrid will be presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month.